N E W S & V I E W S • A P R I L 2 0 2 4 19 On 8 February 2024, Forestry South Africa’s (FSA) Timber Industry Pesticide Working Group (TIPWG) hosted the first of what we hope will become an annual webinar bringing together industry stakeholders and the pesticide industry to address critical issues surrounding pesticide management and sustainable use in a forestry context. The first half of the webinar programme was dedicated to introducing TIPWG, its core functions and resources, to an audience whose familiarity with it may vary. As TIPWG Coordinator, Jacqui Meyer presentation delineated TIPWG’s core functions, which include technical support, industry collaboration, compliance, and the provision of guidelines. The evolution of TIPWG was presented along with a series of proposed enhancements to TIPWG’s offerings that will be rolled out during 2024. Roger Poole introduced his new role as Agrochemical Liaison Officer and how closer ties with the pesticide industry will aid the Sector in remaining internationally competitive. FSA’s Communication Consultant, Dr Katy Johnson, then guided the audience around the TIPWG website, illustrating both the openaccess information housed there and the added value information that can be found in the FSA members-only section. Urging FSA members to register on the website to access the TIPWG Environmental and Social Risk Assessments (ESRAs) and approved pesticide list (APL) with ESRA mitigations. Prof. Jolanda Roux, TIPWG’s Research Liaison introduced Ms. Noxolo Ndlovu, Dr. Bernice Bancole, and Jina Park, the current TIPWG-funded researchers, who showcased their pioneering work and its implications for industry practices. The management of pesticides, in particular, the need to reduce the TIPWG Approved Pesticide List sparked some debate from an audience already concerned at the lack of pest control ‘tools in the forestry toolbox’. Concerns were quickly quelled with assurances that emphasis would be placed on collaboration, evidencebased decision-making, and the need to balance Forestry South Africa’s TIPWG webinar shines a spotlight on the capacity found within the Forestry Sector. (Jacqui Meyer - TIPWG Coordinator)
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